Have horrid cold and 11 weeks pregnant

[NanBullen]

Can I use Vicks nasal spray?

tbh, i hope the answer is yes because i have been as its the only thing that will unblock my nose and help me get some sleep!

Depends what the ingredients are - there's a chemical in most decongestant sprays that you're not supposed to use because it restricts the blood vessels and hasn't been proved safe in pregnancy.

I read on safe foetus that it hasn't been tested on pregnant women and it says it should be ok in the 1st trimester but it does have the chemical that restricts blood vessels.

bugger, I've used it about 5 times since sunday before thinking, hang on, will this be ok? (yes i'm that stupid )

Tbh I did use a decongestant spray because like you the lack of sleep was killing me. I looked it up and it's more that it hasn't been proved safe rather than it has been proved unsafe.

The blood vessel restriction is apparently locally acting, and should only effect your nose, so I felt the chance of it having an effect on the placenta or foetus was pretty minimal. Obviously better not to use it as we don't know for sure that it's safe, but on balance I think it's probably fine.

thanks, I'm not going to use it anymore but i do feel better after reading your post

I started with a cold around 8 weeks pregnant... it lasted a week and went away... then came back twice in the following weeks... i had a blocked nose and was told by pharmacist not to use any nasal sprays... best thing i could do was hang over the sink with a towel over my head with a few drops of olbas oil... i was later told by the midwife blocked nose during pregnancy is a common symtom (rhinitus of pregnancy)... i am now 29 weeks pregnant and havent had it since starting 2nd trimester so hopefully it will clear up for you too soon.

You could try nasal saline drops or spray instead, the saline can help unblock and it doesn't have the active ingredient mentioned above.